First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1220 - A Fleeting Shadow

During his lifetime as the Temple Master, he searched bitterly for a path beyond that of Heaven’s Ascension.

Furthermore, he’d even brushed up against its doorway!

Alas, due to flaws he’d left when proving his Dao and becoming a World King, he ultimately failed to cross the threshold into this higher path.

Was the Temple Master not strong enough?

That wasn’t it at all.

The way Su Yi saw it, his situation was most likely similar to what he’d faced here in the Dark and Gold Star Realm. For some unknown reason, that higher path had long since ceased to exist in this world.

Or perhaps... that higher path was restricted in some way.

In that case, even if the Temple Master’s cultivation had been far more heaven-defying than it already was, how could he possibly advance any further?

The gate was locked, or perhaps moved altogether, so how could he enter it?

Venerate Flooding Heavens’ misfortune, combined with Qin Chongxu’s power when he crossed the River of Time, made Su Yi certain of something.

The Path of Heaven’s Ascension really wasn’t the endpoint of the Grand Dao.

A higher path existed above it!

Rumors of a higher path continuously circulated throughout the stars. They called it the Immortal Path.

Whoever found it could soar into the heavens and become an immortal!

Su Yi shook his head, cast aside his scattered thoughts, and used his divine sense to examine the skeletal hand.

He instantly saw that altar-like seal within the bones once more. It looked as if it were forged out of immortal gold, and it confined an indistinct figure.

Qin Chongxu’s remnant soul!

“It seems you’ve already proven your Dao and become a World King, my young friend. Congratulations!” When he picked up on Su Yi’s divine sense, the captive Qin Chongxu suddenly looked up and sighed.

“You aren’t feigning memory loss this time?” teased Su Yi.

Qin Chongxu fell briefly silent before sighing, “My young friend, this is merely a remnant of my soul. I know I embarrassed myself by using such petty, unseemly methods.”

A moment later, his voice grew warmer. “But all of this gave me an opportunity to witness just how incredible your abilities are, my young friend. Perhaps this is fate! If you’re not opposed, I’d like to establish a positive karmic tie with you.”

“Oh?” said Su Yi. “Positive karma? Tell me more.”

Qin Chongxu thought for a moment. “A long time ago, I learned that this world’s Dao ends at the Three Realms of the Path of Heaven’s Ascension. Don’t you want to know the wonders of the paths beyond that, my young friend?”

Here, he smiled faintly. “Furthermore, I’m sure you’re confused as to why I, someone from the Epoch of Illusions, would cross the River of Time to appear in the Dark and Gold Star Realm.”

“Was it just to uphold the Contract of the Gods?”

“No. There were other reasons behind it, reasons involving reincarnation, and a taboo secret.”

Here, Qin Chongxu gazed intently at Su Yi. “My young friend, if you’re willing to establish a positive karmic tie with me, I can share all of these secrets with you.

“And I can even guide your cultivation and pass on unsurpassed legacies not of this era! You’ll have no need to fear failing to step onto the path beyond Heaven’s Ascension!”

Su Yi smiled faintly. “And how do I go about establishing this positive karmic tie?”

“Simple. Help me escape confinement.” Qin Chongxu pointed at the mysterious seal around him. “Others might not be able to break this seal, but with your mastery of reincarnation, you can do so with ease.”

He paused, then said, “Of course, I won’t make you help for free. As an expression of sincerity, I can give you a Daoist canon right away. It’s called the Jeweled Heart Dream Scripture, and it contains a partial cultivation method for the path beyond Heaven’s Ascension!”

Qin Chongxu beckoned to Su Yi. “Please, come a little closer. I’ll use a secret art to transmit this Daoist canon directly to you. Rest assured; I’m trapped within this seal, so I cannot possibly harm you.”

Su Yi laughed dryly. “I can’t believe a word an old scoundrel like you says.”

Qin Chongxu laughed bitterly. “I’m in such pitiful condition, and everything I’m doing is to live on. How could I possibly have any untoward intentions?”

Su Yi laughed. “If you want to establish positive karma, I actually have a suggestion.”

“Let’s hear it.” Qin Chongxu’s spirits rose.

Su Yi said softly, “Your true body is still alive. This ‘you’ is just a wisp of soul, so why not give up the struggle and let me search your soul?”

Qin Chongxu froze, his expression stiffening.

Only for Su Yi to continue, “In that case, I can learn everything you know, and I won’t have to worry about you deceiving me. What’s not to like?”

Qin Chongxu’s expression darkened, and he said gravely, “My young friend, I am sincere about establishing a positive karmic tie, yet you want to search my soul? Don’t you think that's too much?”

Su Yi laughed. “Too much? That’s right. Do you really think I’m here to discuss conditions with you? Don’t flatter yourself!”

Qin Chongxu was obviously furious.

But a moment later, he laughed. “My young friend, you’re ultimately still immature. The power of this seal shackles me, but it also protects me. Unless you shatter it, you can’t do anything to me at all!”

“Is that true? I’ll just have to try it.” As Su Yi spoke, the power of his soul circulated, and he condensed an avatar of will within the skeletal hand.

His avatar then walked up to the mysterious seal reminiscent of a Daoist altar.

“To you, this seal is like shackles, but to me, it might as well not exist.”

With that, he walked right in.

When Qin Chongxu saw this, his expression filled with disbelief.

But a moment later, he burst into laughter. “And here I’d been wracking my brains for ways to lure you in here. I would never have guessed you’d be so stupid as to serve yourself up on a silver platter!

“But then, it makes sense. You have no idea how lofty my cultivation base is, and you have no way of knowing that the power of a Heavenly Longevity World King’s soul is as helpless as an ant before me!”

He was mad with delight.

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, he charged at Su Yi like mad.

Boom!

Qin Chongxu’s remnant soul was instantly terrifying beyond measure. He emanated resplendent and mysterious Dao Light, which swept toward Su Yi’s avatar of will like a raging tidal wave.

Bang!

A moment later, Qin Chongxu’s remnant wisp of soul was sent flying back, crying out in agony, trembling violently from head to toe.

“You actually have an unparalleled divine weapon guarding your soul!?” Qing Chongxu hissed in utter astonishment.

Earlier, he’d planned to devour Su Yi’s avatar of will. Who’d have thought that the moment he made contact, unsurpassed sword intent would strike him?

If he hadn’t dodged in time, he might well have been destroyed!

Su Yi laughed. “Tell me, which of us is the ant?”

He then walked toward Qin Chongxu, whose expression shifted dramatically. He said hurriedly, “My young friend, what happened earlier was just a misunderstanding!”

Whap!

Su Yi slapped him across the face, sending his remnant soul flying.

He slammed into the mysterious seal, which lit up. Its light formed dancing divine whips, which lashed Qin Chongxu’s soul body to the point that it almost collapsed.

His face contorted, and he cried out in agony, looking incomparably rigid.

“Who cares if you’re from the Epoch of Illusions? Who cares if you’re strong enough to gaze down on World Kings with contempt? You’re nothing but a wisp of soul, yet you dare put on airs before me? You’re truly in need of a beating.”

Su Yi subtly shook his head.

Qin Chongxu’s remnant soul sprawled out on the ground. He shouted, “I can say with certainty that even if you destroy this portion of my soul, I won’t tell you anything! It’s just a wisp of soul. I don’t care!”

Whap!

Before his voice had even finished echoing through the air, Qin Chongxu took a slap to the face.

“You...” Qin Chongxu practically went insane.

With his status, even in his era, countless people revered him, and countless cultivators saw him as their ruler.

Even World Kings had to avert their gazes, lower their heads, and submit before him.

Yet now, someone had slapped him. And repeatedly at that!

It had been a long, long time since he last experienced such humiliation.

“If you don’t care, why are you so upset and angry?” Su Yi laughed. He’d already walked right up to Qin Chongxu, and he gazed down at him contemptuously. “Your life and death don’t matter, but the information I can glean from your soul... is very important to me.”

With that, he raised his hand to search Qin Chongxu’s soul.

Only for a cold, clear voice to ring out.

“Fellow Daoist, please spare his life!”

The mysterious, altar-shaped seal suddenly emanated wisps of dreamlike immortal light, which condensed into an indistinct, delicate figure. Her features seemed illusory and unreal.

Yet her appearance came as an incomparably dazzling assault on the senses, like witnessing an immortal beauty descending into the mortal world. She seemed untainted by the smoke and fire of mundane life, utterly transcendent and ethereal.

“It’s you, you bitch——!” Qin Chongxu was enraged and furious. It seemed he didn’t believe his eyes.

Su Yi could tell at a glance that this dreamlike, illusory figure was an imprint of will.

One left here by that woman, the mysterious Luo Yao!

“Why should I spare him?” Su Yi’s brow furrowed slightly.

Luo Yao’s will explained, “He can serve as an anchor. When I visit the Epoch of Illusions, he’ll be enormously useful.”

“So that’s it.” Su Yi understood. The mysterious Luo Yao had confined this portion of Qin Chongxu’s soul in preparation for a trip to the Epoch of Illusions!

Luo Yao explained, “Fellow Daoist, if you search his soul, you’ll be giving him an opportunity to die. The disadvantages outweigh the benefits. So long as he remains trapped within this prison I made for him, he can’t kill himself even if he wants to.”

“Bitch! I won’t let you get away with this!” Qin Chongxu cursed, his expression incomparably unsightly.

Luo Yao disregarded him, instead looking at Su Yi. She said gently, “My true body will return within three years. When the time comes, I’ll naturally tell you everything you wish to know, Fellow Daoist.”

“Why not chat now?” asked Su Yi.

Luo Yao pointed at herself in mild frustration. “I left this remnant of my will in a hurry. Strictly speaking, it’s at most an imprint of my spirit. It’ll dissipate soon.”

Su Yi recalled Venerate Flooding Heavens saying that although Luo Yao defeated Qin Chongxu during that mysterious catastrophe, she too was injured, and it seemed a strange, taboo power had set its sights on her through the River of Time. She’d had no choice but to flee immediately!”

“Fellow Daoist, please take good care of my bones. I’ll come back another day, and when I do... I’ll be sure to give you an unexpected reward!”

Before her voice had even finished echoing through the air, Luo Yao’s avatar smiled, then burst into a rain of light and dissipated.

Su Yi was stunned, and he couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, Do all women like teasing people like this?